Bulgaria Travel Health Insurance – Country Review

Learn more about Bulgaria Travel Health Insurance with an overview from the CDC and the US State Department. Here we cover Vaccines, Medicines and Insurance.

At AardvarkCompare we strongly suggest that our customers ensure they have sufficient travel insurance for their business trip or vacation. However, irrespective of the level or cover that a traveler has in place, the best outcome is one where the traveler doesn’t need to call on their travel insurance plan. The following advice should help you make the most of your trip to Bulgaria.

Remember, if you do not have Travel Medical cover that will support you overseas, we recommend at least $100k of Travel Medical coverage. We like to see at least $100k of Medical Evacuation as well.
These levels of cover would make us comfortable on a foreign trip – we would not feel as though we had adequate protection without these key benefits.

Bulgaria Travel Health – CDC

Vaccines and Medicines

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

Routine vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Some travelers

Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A outbreaks occur throughout the world and sometimes in countries with a low risk for hepatitis A (including the US). You can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Bulgaria, so talk to your doctor to see if the hepatitis A vaccine is right for you.

Hepatitis B

You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.

Rabies

Although rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in Bulgaria, it is not a major risk to most travelers. CDC recommends this vaccine only for these groups:

Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for animal bites (such as adventure travel and caving).

People who will be working with or around animals (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and researchers).

People who are taking long trips or moving to remote areas in Bulgaria

Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck.

Stay Healthy and Safe

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Bulgaria, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Unclean food and water can cause travelers’ diarrhea and other diseases. Reduce your risk by sticking to safe food and water habits.

Eat

Food that is cooked and served hot

Hard-cooked eggs

Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself

Pasteurized dairy products

Don’t Eat

Food served at room temperature

Food from street vendors

Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs

Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish

Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables

Unpasteurized dairy products

”Bushmeat” (monkeys, bats, or other wild game)

Drink

Bottled water that is sealed

Water that has been disinfected

Ice made with bottled or disinfected water

Carbonated drinks

Hot coffee or tea

Pasteurized milk

Don’t Drink

Tap or well water

Ice made with tap or well water

Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice)

Unpasteurized milk

Take Medicine

Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Bulgaria. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.

Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.

Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.

Do not dive into shallow water.

Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.

Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.

To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.

Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.

Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.

Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.

If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

Wash the wound with soap and clean water.

Go to a doctor right away.

Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

Wash your hands often, especially before eating.

If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

Use latex condoms correctly.

Do not inject drugs.

Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.

Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.

If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medicines you take.

Bring copies of your prescriptions for medicine and for eye glasses and contact lenses.

Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Bulgaria’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.

Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (www.jointcommissioninternational.org).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Walking

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.

Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.

Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.

Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.

Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.

Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.

Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

Wear a seatbelt at all times.

Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.

When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)

Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Bulgaria may be poor.

Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).

Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.

If you choose to drive a vehicle in Bulgaria, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.

Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver’s license at all times.

Check with your auto insurance policy’s international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.

Flying

Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.

If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.

Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.

Monitor travel warnings and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.

Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

After Your Trip

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

Bulgaria Travel Health – The US State Department

U.S.-BULGARIA RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Bulgaria in 1903. A Consular Agency was established in Sofia on January 12, 1912. It reported to the Consulate General in Bucharest. The first American Consular Agent in Bulgaria was actually a Bulgarian national, Asen Kermekchiev (later Ace Kermek), a businessman, physician, and journalist. Kermekchiev served the United States Government even while working as a field doctor for Bulgaria in the First Balkan War, and was praised for protecting American lives and property while at the front. He also founded the first American Chamber of Commerce in Sofia. Bulgaria was allied with Germany in World War II, and became a satellite of the Soviet Union at the war’s end. As Bulgaria emerged from communism in the 1990s, the United States moved to encourage development of multi-party democracy and a market economy.

Bulgaria is a reliable ally in an area of strategic importance to the United States. The U.S.-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement gives the United States military access to and shared use of several Bulgarian military facilities. The access facilitates joint training between the U.S. military and the Bulgarian and Romanian militaries. Bulgaria has participated in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European Union (EU), and coalition operations, including in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Bosnia.

We work closely with the government of Bulgaria in strengthening the rule of law and have strong cooperation in law enforcement.

On any given day, there are approximately 9,000 Americans in Bulgaria. The American University of Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad draws students from throughout southeast Europe and beyond, and is the only U.S.-accredited university in the country.

U.S. Assistance to Bulgaria

U.S. Government investment in modernization and NATO interoperability for Bulgaria’s military helps create stronger, more effective Bulgarian military units that can deploy alongside U.S. forces when needed.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union. Upon its accession to the EU, the country adopted regulations and standards that conform to EU norms. U.S. companies conduct business across the major industry sectors. The United States and Bulgaria have a treaty on avoidance of double taxation and a bilateral investment treaty. U.S. citizens traveling on a U.S. passport for business or tourism purposes can enter and stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days in a 6-month period without requiring issuance of a visa.

Bulgaria’s Membership in International Organizations

Bulgaria and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Bulgaria also is an observer to the Organization of American States.

Bilateral Representation

Bulgaria maintains an embassy in the United States at 1621 22nd Street, NW, Washington DC 20008 (tel. 202-387-0174).

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